Systems Engineer

About us

Vow is a food company - a very different one. We’re creating real meat products from animal cells instead of the animal itself.

We’re bringing together cutting edge innovations in science, engineering, culinary and design to make sustainable food that’s both irresistible and available to billions of people worldwide.

The role:

Vow is seeking a Systems Engineer to join our team here in Alexandria, Sydney, Australia.

As a Systems Engineer on our team, you’ll be building and integrating hardware and software systems that automate mission-critical laboratory and manufacturing workflows to bring delicious, low-cost cultured meat to the world in the shortest time frame possible. The clever integrations that you build will change the way we work - removing bottlenecks, simplifying processes and accelerating key laboratory and manufacturing pipelines.

Outstanding candidates draw on an array of engineering skills and principles, operate from first principles, enthusiastically embrace new skills and ways of thinking, and can work effectively with team members from diverse, multidisciplinary backgrounds to deliver great outcomes.

The experience/skills you will bring:

A robust foundation with a Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Automation, or related fields, supported by equivalent professional accomplishments showcasing your expertise.
A minimum of 5 years' hands-on experience in designing and executing complex, multidisciplinary systems, particularly in mission-critical and user-centric applications.
Proficiency in software development (C, C++ or Python), cloud technologies (AWS, Azure, GCP), and industrial communication protocols.
Experience designing mechanical or electrical parts using CAD or EDA tools (e.g. Fusion 360, Inventor, Solidworks, KiCAD, EAGLE or Altium) and manufacturing them using fabrication tools such as CNC, 3D printing, laser cutting, etc for use in industrial applications.
An obsession with the product and the user. You constantly think about the perspectives of end-users and your impact on the mission even when it’s not asked of you. Your users feel heard when they provide feedback, or better yet, when you actively seek it out.
Proven ability to apply first principles thinking to evaluate if projects ladder up to outcomes supporting company goals.
Exceptional problem-solving abilities to deconstruct complex challenges into manageable solutions, employing both custom and readily available systems and components.
Expertise in diagnosing and troubleshooting issues during development and validation phases, ensuring system reliability and performance.
Decision-making skills that balance perfection with pragmatism, focusing on cost-effective and impactful solutions.
Effective communication skills, capable of conveying complex technical concepts in clear, cross-functional language to diverse audiences using data, metrics or even emojis where helpful.

Bonus if you have:

A demonstrated ability to perform at a national level in any capacity through competitions, awards or other extracurricular ranked events.

You will:

Design, develop, deliver and refine cost-effective and short time-to-value automation systems that address and resolve key bottlenecks in laboratories or predominantly a rapidly scaling manufacturing environment, significantly speeding up the development and production of cultured meat products.
Lead the engineering development lifecycle from customer engagement and problem identification to prototyping, testing, documentation, and performance monitoring, evolving into a trusted authority on product and technology strategy within your domain.
Dive into any required technology stack segment, including hardware, firmware, data engineering, and front end, to deliver successful engineering projects, ready to learn new skills and step out of your comfort zone as needed.
Evaluate and mentor fellow engineers' work, contributing to their growth and fostering a learning environment.
Actively enhance our company culture and operational processes through your innovative contributions.
Embark on a learning journey across biology, hardware, design, and culinary arts with our multidisciplinary team, applying these insights to enrich your work and drive Vow's mission forward.

What success looks like:

Within 3 months, you will:

Fully understand Vow's innovative approach to cultured meat production, including the current systems and processes in place. Gain a comprehensive understanding of the company's mission, values, and the highest impact automation opportunities that need to be addressed within the manufacturing environment.
Make contributions and improvements to how we run the world’s largest cultured meat production facility, or accelerate how quickly we can discover and create outrageously delicious products.

Within 6 months, you will:

Work closely with manufacturing teams to gain deeper insights into the users, workflows, critical processes, resulting metrics, and the overall vision that drives our rapidly scaling manufacturing at Vow.
Successfully deploy one or more major automation systems that address identified bottlenecks within the first three months, demonstrating clear improvements in manufacturing efficiency and productivity. These systems should be well integrated into Vow's existing workflows, with positive feedback from end-users.

Within 12 months, you will:

Establish yourself as a key player in Vow's goals with a few successful projects under your belt that showcase cutting-edge technology and creative problem-solving. This includes showing quantifiable improvements in Vow's manufacturing efficiency, cost reduction, and product quality, directly attributable to the systems you've designed and implemented.
Help expand Vow's capabilities into new areas of automation and system integration, potentially leading exploratory projects that could open up new avenues for cultured meat production and distribution.

Who we are and why join:

We are building a diverse, mission-led dream team of “Vowzers.” Our mission is to make food products for everyone. To do that well we need a workforce that’s representative of the people we serve. We celebrate multiple approaches and points of view - so we’re building a culture to match. Be yourself and come as you are.
Work on cutting-edge technology. We’re bringing together cutting-edge innovations in science, engineering, and food, to recreate the world’s most tantalising and unique culinary experiences. All without compromising on ethics or our planet along the way. Since our inception in 2019, we have held the title of being the first startup to cultivate meat from the cells of an undomesticated animal, and have served up our exotic meats ranging from kangaroo dumplings to alpaca sliders in tastings with world-renowned chefs.
Work with and learn from the best. Our team includes some of the world’s top scientists, innovators, operators, and creatives with decades of industry experience. Despite our experiences though, we all strive to build, break, learn, and repeat. We see the impossible as temporary and strive to learn and support our company and fellow Vowzers' growth as much as possible.
We’re fully funded and ready to go. We are a growing Aussie biotech start-up backed by Blackbird Ventures, Square Peg Capital, Grok Ventures, Tenacious Ventures, P7 Ventures, Toyota Ventures, and PeakBridge VC.

Vow perks and benefits:

Everyone is an owner. In addition to competitive base salaries, each and every ‘Vowzer’ owns equity in the company so we can all benefit from our hard work and future success.
Generous paid parental leave. We offer 8 weeks of paid caregiver leave and an additional 8 weeks paid leave for the birth giver.
Generous relocation budget & support. Support for interstate or overseas team members and their families (including pets!)
Flexible working hours and location. We value work-life balance. While we’re mostly back in the office, you’re free to choose the best way for you to work.
Unlimited personal leave. At Vow we recognise that sometimes you need time off to recuperate, look after your mental health, or simply deal with an emergency. We put unlimited personal leave in place to empower you to truly bring your best self to work every single day and you are always paid for days taken off as personal leave.
Heaps of tasty samples from our culinary centre. Our fantastic "food inventors" on the Vow team are always cooking up new product prototypes, and all Vowzers are given the opportunity to taste, give feedback, and learn from their culinary prowess.
An awesome converted warehouse “campus” in Alexandria. Complete with a glass-walled lab, manufacturing line, free snacks, a culinary centre, and professional-grade coffee machine in our cafe, as well as a DIY workshop for all hands-on projects.
Human and dog friendly office! An inclusive community and culture, in a welcoming office, complete with friendly “Vowzer” dogs!
A variety of social clubs. We encourage all our Vowzers to build the culture with us and share what you love by creating social clubs across the business. From book clubs to hiking groups, we’re always looking for ways to learn and engage with our team.

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